How did Thousand Island dressing get that name?

Question

I am really just curious. It's such a funny name for something so disgusting.

Answer 1

The history of Thousand Island Dressing dates back to the early days of the 20th century and centers in the small resort village of Clayton, New York. A fishing guide named George LaLonde, Jr. guided visiting fishermen for Black Bass and Northern Pike through the waters of the 1000 Islands. After a day of fishing, he and his wife, Sophia LaLonde, would serve what they called “shore dinners” with a different and unusual salad dressing. The following story on the origin of Thousand Island Dressing was given to me by Allen and Susan Benas, owners of the Thousand Islands Inn:

“On one particular occasion, George LaLonde, Jr., was guiding a very prominent New York City stage actress named May Irwin and her husband. May Irwin, a renowned cook and cookbook authoress in her own right, was particularly impressed with the dressing and asked George for the recipe. Sophia La Londe, who created the dressing, was flattered by the request and willingly gave her the recipe. Sophia also had given the recipe to Ella Bertrand, who’s family owned the Herald Hotel, one of the most popular hotels in Clayton. May Irwin and her husband had stayed at the Herald Hotel during their early vacations in the island and had already tasted the dressing. It was May Irwin who gave it the name Thousand Island and it was Ella Bertrand who first served it to the dining public.

Upon her return to New York City, May Irwin gave the recipe to fellow 1000 Islands’ summer visitor, George C. Boldt, who was owner of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Equally impressed with the dressing and its flavor. Mr. Boldt directed his world famous maitre di, Oscar Tschirky, to put the dressing on the hotel’s menu. In doing so, Oscar Tschirky earned credit for introducing the dressing to the world.”

In 1972, Allen and Susan Benas purchased the Herald Hotel and changed its name to the Thousand Islands Inn. Needless to say, Thousand Island Dressing is the “official” house dressing at the inn. The Benas now bottle and sell the dressing at the inn and on the internet.

Answer 2

I think the Thousand Islands are in New York. Minnesota is the land of a thousand lakes, but I never heard about the islands numbering a thousand. Well, they have more than a thousand, I'd say. I think it was from those resorts upstate in New York. It's based on Russian dressing, which is basically the same thing but I don't think it has pickles, or it's made from chili sauce or...I don't remember. I personally like the taste of it but it looks like puke. So much for eating with the eyes first.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How did Thousand Island dressing get that name?
I am really just curious. It's such a funny name for something so disgusting.

Answer 4

Thousand Island, a variant of Russian dressing, was invented in the first decades of the 20th century by Sophia LaLonde. LaLonde substituted mayonnaise for the yogurt used in Russian dressing, and added pickle relish, chives and sometimes chopped, hard-boiled eggs. The dressing was popularized by one of her dinner guests, actress May Irwin, who gave the condiment its name, after LaLonde's home, the Thousand Islands region of upstate New York and Eastern Ontario.

Yum! I love Thousand Island dressing.

Answer 5

the man that made it went on a quest and found a thousand different islands and decided to make a dressing and call it that.

Answer 6

From the thousand islands in the great lakes.

Answer 7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousand_Island_dressing